Record exports as new markets get a taste for lamb

Exports of Australian lamb are expected to reach record levels this year, with sales of boxed meat tipped to break the 200,000 tonne mark, up more than 12 per cent on last year.

The Middle East was the biggest importer of Australian lamb, taking more than 59,000 tonnes, while the United States was the most valuable market, buying more expensive cuts.

Sheepmeat Council CEO Ron Cullen says demand for Australian lamb is continuing to grow, including in new markets, like China.

"That demand is very solid and there is no reason to think it won't continue," Mr Cullen said.

"Our only real competitor in the international market place is New Zealand. No other country exports the sorts of tonnages of sheep meat that we do, and New Zealand does, as such when demand increases in those countries there's very few suppliers other than Australia and New Zealand.

"New Zealand are finding significant land use competition from dairy, so sheep numbers have fallen , they've had a couple of years of very severe drought, they've had a couple of problems through their lambing period, such that supply has been down over the last couple of years from New Zealand.

"They don't have the amount of product to compete with us in those international market places. They've not been able to fulfil their European quota which they've always seen as sort of the jewel in their crown."